Customer Reviews

The Constant

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Why do bands usually make music that isn't up to par with their old material when they mature? Usually it's because what made the music great in the beginning was the young, passion-drive angst and energy that usually fades away as bands age.

Thankfully for us, Story of the Year hasn't lost their edge, but they definitely have matured. Their fourth effort under the SOTY name brings to the table the most well developed and poetic of anything they've ever done. Having said that the material I believe will be immediatly compatable with the CD collections of fans of all three of the other works.

Most of the songs are mid-tempoed melodic rock with the same punchy hooks we've come to expect from the boys of Story of the Year, with very heartfelt lyrics about trying to grow up in such a confusing world that we live in. This is a CD that is meant to be taken as a whole for how pretty sounding it all is; it could almost constitute a concept album.

Unlike most bands that have been around as long as these guys have however, they still keep their feet firmly planted in the hardcore scene. Whereas bands like the Used and Rise Against have dropped most of the screaming from their music, we have three very obvious examples of Dan Marsala's brutal raw vocal onslaught in "To the Burial" "Won Threw Ate" and "Eye for an Eye" These songs tend to be very political with lyrics that could have come from "In the Wake of Determination" but still manage to keep a little bit of "Black Swan" polish on them. "Eye for an Eye" is clearly a throwback to the days of "Falling Down," closing out the album with a four chord punk based rocker instead of an epic 5 minutes metally song.

And still these boys manage to keep things fresh after all these years by trying new things with the sound they've become so comfortable in. The opener "The Children Sing" opens with a chorus of, well, children singing, giving it an arena rock feel and making it a pretty powerful song. "The Dream is Over" is a straight up rock and roll jam with a bass driven verse (something we have seen very little of since "Page Avenue").

I can't say this will sit well with some fans, it's not like the other three albums, a tad softer at times and very personal, but in my opinion Story of the Year has always been a pretty personal and heartfelt band. This will be spinning in my CD player for quite some time to say the least, and even once the new CD charm wears off I can tell that it will get just about as much play time as other SOTY offerings. An instant classic and the first truly great CD of the new decade.

If you found their album "The Black Swan" good, you will definitely love this album as I did. The Constant sounds similar to The Black Swan but in a good way. Story of the Year have definitely found their sound.

Unfortunately there comes a point when a band can't go any further, and this may be it with SOTY's new album. The Black Swan and previous albums were incredible. A tour de force of music from beginning to end. Unfortunately there are just a few gems on The Constant. It's unfortunate because SOTY is a really great band, but at some point everyone runs out of ideas.

This album, like previous reviews said, sounds a lot like the old-time Story of the Year--which is AWESOME.

Their new songs have the same sound as their older, more famous stuff, but these new songs are even better. Sure you can't ever beat hits like Anthem of Our Dying Day and Until the Day I Die, but songs like The Ghost of You and I, Holding on to You, and Ten Years Down are very close competitors.

Story of the Year is so good at making amazing songs that cover different genres, for example their song "Won Threw Ate" is very heavy and filled with screaming and its AWESOME. While their other song "Holding on to You" is soft but EPIC and BEAUTIFUL, not to mention some of the catchiest stuff I've heard.

My favorite songs on this record are "The Ghost of You and I" and "Holding on to You" but in all honesty, I've thoroughly enjoyed every song on the album. It is truly phenomenal.

Buy this album, support an amazing band, and trust me, you will NOT be dissappointed.

The constant is wonderful and this was a good buy although I do like the previous albums better.Musically, this record has less shouting and more singing than their previous efforts which is great because their lead singer has a fantastic voice and I can't say this will sit well with some fans, but but in my opinion Story of the Year has always been great and their lyrics are so beautiful and deep!!! I love them, they are one of my favourite bands and I definitely recommend getting this album beacause is amazing!!!Here is a track listing and rating:

1.The Children Sing 7.5/10
2.The Ghost Of You And I 7.5/10
3.I'm Alive 8/10
4.To The Burial 8.5/10
5.The Dream Is over 7/10
6.Remember A Time 7/10
7.Holding On To You 8.5/10
8.Won Threw Ate 8/10
9.Ten Years Down 7/10
10.Time Goes On 7.5/10
11.Eye For An Eye 7.5/10

This album is very repetitive. It is very much a "constant" sound. I have been a fan since the old days and loved how much diversity they put into their music. This album seems very much targeted at the masses with a bland generic sound. It is still ok music but nothing compared to past albums.

Every song on the Album is Awesome i can listen to this whole cd at least once a day...this is my opinion so if anyone disagrees then o well i love them their my my favorite band..

SOTY's 4th album is nothing short of perfect. From the moving opener "the children sing" to the closing headbanging "eye for an eye" this album's got it all: beautiful melodies, catchy choruses, touching lyrics (SOTY style) and of course Dan Marsala's unchallenged soaring vocals!!
There's not a single bad song, my favourites are "the children sing", "the ghost of you and I" & "holding on to you".

Overall an amazing effort by one of the best bands out there.